TheMusicMan
15.01.2007, 12:07
Farewell to a Dedicated Bandsman
The family and friends of Gordon Barker, together with the members of Raunds Temperance Band will be joining at Kettering Crematorium on Thursday to say a final farewell to Gordon in the only possible way – with a pure brass band sound filling the chapel with hymns and some well loved music.
http://www.themouthpiece.com/images/gordon.jpgGordon has been a member of the same band for 65 years which is something of a record in banding circles, in fact he was presented with a special award by the brass band association after serving 60 years. He joined the band as a youngster in the early 1940’s and you could always rely on Gordon being there when the baton dropped for a rehearsal or concert. Over the years Gordon has experienced some successful and exciting times through the achievements of the band, together with the times when the band has gone through leaner times, but he has always been a dedicated player. Gordon epitomised what true banding is all about.
He was a gentle, kind and talented man who was devoted to his family, his band and his garden (often providing band members with vegetables grown in his garden and which were superfluous to his family’s requirements). Though developing diabetes in later years, Gordon could always be seen in the streets of Raunds on a Tuesday and Thursday carrying his large brass instrument up to the practice room. However, as a result of an unfortunate fall just before Christmas, Gordon was confined to hospital with a broken neck and sadly passed away on the 11th January.
The thoughts of the band members go out to Gordon’s family at this difficult time and, although it may sound like a cliché, Gordon will most definitely be sadly missed by all.
The family and friends of Gordon Barker, together with the members of Raunds Temperance Band will be joining at Kettering Crematorium on Thursday to say a final farewell to Gordon in the only possible way – with a pure brass band sound filling the chapel with hymns and some well loved music.
http://www.themouthpiece.com/images/gordon.jpgGordon has been a member of the same band for 65 years which is something of a record in banding circles, in fact he was presented with a special award by the brass band association after serving 60 years. He joined the band as a youngster in the early 1940’s and you could always rely on Gordon being there when the baton dropped for a rehearsal or concert. Over the years Gordon has experienced some successful and exciting times through the achievements of the band, together with the times when the band has gone through leaner times, but he has always been a dedicated player. Gordon epitomised what true banding is all about.
He was a gentle, kind and talented man who was devoted to his family, his band and his garden (often providing band members with vegetables grown in his garden and which were superfluous to his family’s requirements). Though developing diabetes in later years, Gordon could always be seen in the streets of Raunds on a Tuesday and Thursday carrying his large brass instrument up to the practice room. However, as a result of an unfortunate fall just before Christmas, Gordon was confined to hospital with a broken neck and sadly passed away on the 11th January.
The thoughts of the band members go out to Gordon’s family at this difficult time and, although it may sound like a cliché, Gordon will most definitely be sadly missed by all.